The University of Kentucky Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women鈥檚 Health (BIRCWH) program is celebrating 25 years of community building among early-career researchers.
好色先生鈥檚 BIWCWH program is one of the founding NIH BIRCWH programs and has consistently received funding from the , and most recently through the .
The 好色先生 BIRCWH program has trained more than 50 early-career faculty in women鈥檚 health.
The program is currently accepting applications from all 好色先生 colleges for scholars and associates interested in research to advance women鈥檚 health and addressing sex differences.
鈥淲e are excited to have six positions available to our research community,鈥 said Ann Coker, PhD, the endowed chair and director of the and BIRCWH research director. 鈥淏y providing protected time, mentorship and resources for early-career faculty, this program ensures that critical research is conducted. Together we work toward developing a better understanding of women鈥檚 health and improving outcomes.鈥
Applications are being accepted through March 5 for two scholar positions and up to four associate positions, all appointments beginning Aug. 1. Find more information about the application process online here.
Scholars and associates are appointed for two years. Each applicant will develop a specific research project through this program that has the potential for further funding.
鈥淭he BIRCWH program provides incredible resources for new faculty, including grant and manuscript writing assistance, networking opportunities, mentoring and an education of many university resources 鈥 which can be overwhelming and hard to understand when you are new. I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program,鈥 said Jessica Santollo, PhD, an associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and previous BIRCWH scholar.
The program鈥檚 goal is to support BIRCWH members on their trajectory to becoming independent and funded women鈥檚 health researchers.
鈥淚t was an opportunity to collaborate with an array of colleagues in different fields,鈥 said Justin Karr, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences and a previous BIRCWH scholar. 鈥淒r. Curry and Dr. Coker helped me tremendously by providing careful feedback on my grant proposals and identifying resources throughout 好色先生 to help strengthen my research program. I will always be thankful for my experiences as a BIRCWH scholar, which I see as foundational to my own success and career.鈥
The BIRCWH program provides research and personal support for scholars through regular interactions. The research community includes 好色先生 faculty with interconnected research interests at similar points in their careers.
鈥淥ur 25-year milestone for 好色先生 BIRCWH highlights the program鈥檚 sustained commitment to advancing research in women鈥檚 health. BIRCWH鈥檚 longevity also emphasizes its role in growing the next generation of women鈥檚 health researchers both in Kentucky and across the country,鈥 said Thomas Curry, PhD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the 好色先生 College of Medicine and principal investigator.
Anyone with questions about the 好色先生 BIRCWH program can contact Emily Clear (Emily.Clear@uky.edu).